Refrigerator car and detachable unit therefor



June 21, 1932. J D SMALL l 1,864,259

REFRIGERTOR CAR AND DETAGHABLE UNIT y'II'EREFOR Filed Feb. 21, 1929 INVENTOR Jo/m., 5'mall L *g BY a: i 2 I.

.i ATTORNEY Patented June 2l, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN' D. SMALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO DRYICE EQUIPMENT CORPORATION,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE f REFRIGERATOR CAR AND DETACHABLE UNIT THEREFOB Application led February 21, 1929. Serial No. 341,704.

My present invention relates to long distance transportation of perishable products and is particularly applicable to products which are not damaged by overfre'ezing, as for instance, meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, ice cream, water ice, Eskimo pie, etc., and involves the solution of certain problems peculiarly involved in the use of frozen carbon dioxide as a refrigerant medium.

Heretofore methods have been proposed for shipments of perishable products refrigerated by frozen carbon dioxide wherein the refrigerant, suitably insulated, is packed in with packages or parcels of said products, but no scientific or orderly use of the carbon dioxide gas given oil" by the sublimating solid carbon dioxide has ever been made because the shipping containers have not been of a type suitable for the purpose. In many cases they are simply corrugated paper cartons intended to be thrown away by the customer. ln other cases, balsa wood boxes have been proposed. But recent test has shown that even balsa wood boxes are astonishingly permeahle for escape of carbon dioxide gas, so much so that unless extravagant amounts of carbon dioxide ice are used to give a. high gasgenerating rate, the volumes of gas are not suiiicient to exclude air from the containers. Furthermore,all but a very few of the usable materials are'likewise phenomenally permeable to the gas. So much is this true, that the cheapest and safest reliance has been found to be a metal container. The metal is absolutely impervious and it can be built absolutely gas tight, as by brazing or preferably by Welding all seams. For throw away purposes, however, the cost of such containers is prohibitive and the metal is objectionable because it is the best possible conductor of However. I- have discovered that it is possible to make these metal containers of large size and great structural strength for wholesale shipments. and by iicient non-conducting material and installing therein a circulatory7 svstem affording what may be termed dynamic or convection insulation by proper circulation of the gas from the frozen carbon dioxide, the latter,

lining them with suf! though relatively costly per pound, may be economically employed.

One diiiiculty in connection with proper` thermore, by this expedient it is practicable' to provide in the top of the contalner a se arate opening or manhole through which t e frozen carbon dioxide may be replenished from time to time.

In accordance with the complete system which my invention contemplates, the container units may beV packed, with perishable products and the bunkers charged with solid carbonv dioxide at the place of shipment, picked up byy suitable hoisting mechanism, deposited on trucks, transferred by suitable hoisting mechanism to platform or gondola cars, shipped to destination, replenished with solid carbon dioxideon the way if necessary, again transferred to trucks, carried to the place of distribution, and deposited right side up for use like an ordinary dispensing refri erator until the products contained therein.

are dis osed of.v Even though the container must t en bev returned to the shipper, the relatively enormous quantities of perishable products that can be shipped in a single container will far more than compensate for the cheapness of the throw away containers, orl

the balsa wood boxes heretofore used.

The above and other features of my invention will be more evident from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 1s a conventional view lndicatmg a carload of my right-side-up containers deposited on an ordinary freight-car which may be of the platform or the gondola type;

Fig. 2 is a characteristic vertical section through one of the shipping units on a plane paallel with the elevation shown in Fig. 1;' an c tion that would be normally handled by hoistl ing tackle as at 3 and as a practical matter would at all times be kept right side up.

While my invention is not limited to exact sizes or weights for the units, large size is important for many reasons. For instance, 0 in the present case, the units occupy the full width of the car and are approximately 7-foot cubes. `With such units, the walls and circulatory spaces may be approximately one foot thick, yet the net refrigerated space for a5 shipment of the goods will be 625 cubic feet for an exposed heat absorbing surface of approximately 300 square feet. This is in re- 'markable contrast to the balsa wood shipping box referred to above which may be, say, 2

3o ft. x 2 ft. x 3 ft. and with insulating walls only 3 inches thick will afford only about 5 cubic feet of storage space for 32y square feet of exterior heat absorbing area, so that other things being equal, the amount of refrigerant a5 per unit storage space would be something like 5 times as much for the balsa wood box as for my refrigerator car unit.

Each unit comprises a strong rigid exterior casing 4, preferably made from rolled steel l plates riveted together and stayed with angle irons for all edges. Stiffness may be insured by truss-like ribs either rolled in the plates or applied in the form of stay-strips or channelirons. A very important feature of this casing is that all exterior seams are rendered absolutely gas tight, preferably by brasing or strip welding, although certain grades of asphaltum, paraflin and the likel "might be used, if properly applied and .pro-

"30 Ltected.

The casing being of such good heat absbrb- 'in material and the exposure in regular use being frequently great is compensated for in two ways: First, there is very heavy interior insulating lining of cork, kapok or the like. In the present case, the ioor 5 is protected by, say, 10 inches of cork while the side walls are protected by similar thicknesses of compressed kapok blankets 6. The roof insulation 7 may be either kapok or cork, but for structural integrity I have elected to indicate cork.

As before indicated, a very important feature of the invention is refrigeration of the 6 5 interior by means of solid carbon dioxide ar- 1,se4,259 Y 'ranged to have a circulatory system for the gas evolved so as to afford what may be termed live or dynamic insulation in addition to the cork or kapok insulation previously described. As has been proposed sometime since and is now well known, such systems preferably utilize a solid carbon dioxide container at a hi h level and the circulation of the gas is y gravity, the cold gas flowing downward from the source, across under the bottom and, as it becomes warm and of lighter specific gravity, it rises to the top where it may escape to the outer air, thus operating by convection to carr to the outer air large amounts of sensible eat that leak in through the insulating walls.

In the illustrative form shown in the drawing, the refrigerated cargo space is in the interior of a preferably gas tight sheet metal chamber 8 supported above the cargo floor 5 on cleats 9, laterally stayed by blocks 10 of non-conducting materials such as balsa wood. To further insure circulating space between the kapok walls Gand said inner container, vertical strips 11 may be interposed. l Rigidly secured in the uppermost part of the inner container is a bunker 12 for the solid carbon dioxide 13. Heat finding its way to this Ibunker causes sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide evolving large volumes of gas, approximately .500 cubic feet of gas for one cubic foot of the solid. This `gas spills out and being very heavy flows by gravity down the interspace between -slats 11, across the bottom between slats 9 and up the other side between slats 11 to the space above the top of the inner container. From this warmest part of the circulatory space,.the gas is permitted to escape as for instance throu h the outlet check valve 14.A If the cargo 1s of a kind warranting it,insulating carbon dioxide gas may be admitted to the interior through a hand operated cock 15.

The inner container is preferably seamless and the free edges of the sheet metal are prefably embedded in doorway frame members 16, 16, as shown inl Fig. 3, the joint being made absolutely gas-tight by liberal application of asphalt preparation. The same asphalt preparation is preferably used at the ]oint between this door frame and the outer shell 4.

Though not shown in detail, the service door for loading and unloading the cargo is constructed with greatest care to have it close gas-tight, not because of the internal gas pressure, which is preferably not excessive, but because of the phenomenal diffusive ability of the carbon d1oxide. gas whereby it will find its way out of the low level leaks to draw in air at high level leaks even when the gas is being supplied at what one would' consider a very high rate. The'I door is formed with an inner lining of firm, highly compressed insulating material, preferably 1n in positionby lock or seal wedge form, and tightly ittin so that a very tight joint will be forme when the door is closed. Ordinary wedge latches 17, such as commonly employed for refrigerator doors, may be used and in addition, for my present purposes, I prelfer to provide a clamping bar 18 swinging on a staple 19 and having its free end adapted to engage another st-aple 20 over which` it may be secured by a padlock or by a seal diagrammatically indicated at 21. This clamping bar may be provided with means for exerting special pressurelon the door to force it home as, for instanceg--'the clamping screw 22.

My shipping container differs from other transportation packages-in the further particular that it has a separate, always accessible, opening for replenishin the bunkers with solid carbon dioxide whet er in transit or at the place of distributionuojl the product. This is afforded by a roof" opening with a wedge plug closure 25 of insulating material. Protection of the merchandise being shipped does not require that this closure be locked, but I preferably provide a locking bar 28 with clamping screw 32 adapted to be held 31 which may be similar to parts 18, 22 and 21 of Fig. 3.

It will be understood that the above circulatory refrigerating system is intended to be illustrative of any system in which the gravity flow of the carbon dioxide gas from the refrigerant figures as an important factor in effective insulation of the package. Other suc-h systems may be employed and if desired, particularly where kapok blankets are usedl for the walls, the solid carbon dioxide bunker 12 may be closed as shown in Fig. 4, by a tight fitting cover 35 so as to conline the carbon dioxide gas for the purpose and with the result that it may be released at relatively hlgh velocity through a constricted outletil 36 dischargin in a direction to accelerate the natural circu ation and break up the tendency to stagnation of the' extremely cold gas in the bottom of the package. The cover may be held down by its own weight where only slight pressures are desired or clamping nuts 37 on studs 38 may be provided to'withstand any required degree of internal pressure that may be desired for giving suitable volume and velocity to the jet through 36.

It will be noted that in lFig. 1 I have shown the service e obvious that the doors may be faced against each other with only the imperforate side walls exposed.

While the specific `circulatory system for the gas herein shown is a good one, it will be understood that almost any circulatory sys;

teni for cold CO2 gas, that depends on the direct-ion of gravity for its best functioning, could be used for the units of my .right-sideup transportation and dispensing system.

doors of the transportation. f

The means and structure practicall compelling such right-side-u transportation and operation may be supp emented or substituted as by bulging, crowning or otherwise. conflgurin the roof and, if desired, the upright wal s. External pro'ections, ribs or channel irons or bosses coul be used for this purpose as well as for the ordinary purpose of protection and structural strength.

While I have referred to the trans ortaf. -tion units as approximating cubical an have referred to s ecilic dimens1ons,`it will be evident that wi e variation is possible. For instance, the carplatfonm could be covered by rows of unitshaving horizontal sections of,

and their heights may be greateror less than the horizontal dimensions. s Moreover, for truck or for box car transportation of units lto be used as dispensing refrigerators by customers, different sizes and small sizes would be usable provided the right-side-up construction is employed.

I claim: 1. A refrigerator car comprising an open or platform freight car having thereon a refrigerator structure comprising a' single layer of removable, closely assembled refrigerator units all supported directly on the car platform and occupying substantially the level for circulation 4in the interspace between said walls and said container; the upright walls of each being formed with service doors and locking means for the cargo, and its roof rovidedwwith an opening for charging the unkers and with holding devices for hoisting tackle whereby in all transportation and uses it is made diiicult to dispose the unit '1 other than right side up.

2. A refrigerator car comprising an open or platform freight car having thereon a rerigerator structure comprising a single layer of removable, units all supported directly on the car platform and occupying substantially the whole load carrying area ofthe platform, said refrigerator lunits each'comprising a gas-tight outer casing of metal having *thick inner l walls of permeable insulating material enclosing an inner metal tontainer arranged to. afford gas circulating interspaces between said permeable insulating walls and said in,-V ner container, high level bunkers forsolid';

say 31A; feet by 7 feet or 31A; feet by 31/2 feet AIl() closely assembled refrigerator carbon dioxide outside of said container and whereby in all transportation and uses it is made diicult to dispose the unit other than right side up.

3. A refrigerator car comprising an open or platform freight car having thereon a refrigerator structure comprising a single layer of removable, closely assembled refrigerator units all supported directly on the car platform and occupying substantially the whole load carrying area of the platform, said refrigerator units each being approximately cubical and each comprising a gas-tight outer casing of metal having thick inner walls of ermeable insulating material enclosing an inner metal container arranged to afford gas circulating interspaces between said permeable insulating walls and said inner container, high level bunkers for solid carbon dioxide outside of said container and discharging gas at a high level for circulation in the interspace between said walls and said container.

4. A refrigerator car comprising an open or platform freight car having thereon a refrigerator structure comprising a single layer of removable, closely assembled refrigerator units all supported directly on the car pl tform and occupying substantially the wh le load carrying area of the platform, said refrigerator units each comprisin a gas-tight outer casing of metal having thic inner walls of permeable insulating material enclosing an inner metal container arranged to afford gas circulating interspaces between said permeable insulating walls and said inner container, high level bunkers for solid carbon dioxide outside of said container and discharging gas at a lhigh level for circulation in the interspace between said walls and said container, each being of great size and weight` requiring hoisting tackle for lifting and provided With holding devices for the hoisting tackle arranged to facilitate hoisting and depositing right-side-up only.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a heat insulating container in which perishablev goods are adapted to be shipped' and from which the goods may be subsequentlyvended, the container comprising a strong portable box-like body the interior of which is adapted to be snugly packed with oods, said con tainer having an opening t erein'through which the goods are adapted to be inserted and removed and means to secure the closure against unauthorized or undetected opening while in transit, said container wholly enclosing a chamber of very small capacity as compared to the capacity of the container closin and adapted to accommodate an intensely cold solid refrigerant of the sublimating type, and a closure controlled charging opening for saidchamber independent of said first mentioned closure, in combination with 7 6 meansto permit the gas sublimating from the refrigerant to flow in heat exchangin relationship to the merchandise content o the container and means to prevent the creation of undesirable pressures in the container or the chamber by the gas which is generated, said container being of the massive fiat sided type adapted to be snugly fitted between similar units on flat cars for transportation, and having its refrigerant charging opening in the top, and its goods loading opening in one of its vertical walls.

6. A refrigerated unit or package for transportation purposes, comprising a gas tight louter casing of metal having thick inner walls of insulating material enclosin an inner container for the cargo, high leve a bunkers for solid carbon dioxide outside of said container and discharging gas at a high level for and arranged for gravity circulation thereof in operative relationlto the cargo; the upright walls of each being formed with service doors and locking means for the cargo and its roof being provided with holding devices whereby in all trans-` portation and uses it is made diliicult to dispose the unit other than right-side-up.

7. A refrigerated unit or package for transportation purposes, said unit being of approximately rectangular horizontal sec. tion and of slze adapted to substantially oc cupy the available width of the load bearing area of a platform freight car, said unit comprising a gas-tight outer casing, having thick inner walls of insulating material enan inner container, said insulating material being permeable to permit gas circulation between the walls o the outer casing and the inner container, high level bunkers for solid carbon dioxide discharging gas for such circulation in said interspace, the upright walls of said unit being formed with service doors and locking means for the cargo and its roof being provided with openings for charging the bunkers without permitting access to the cargo.

8. A refrigerated unit or package for transportation purposes,compri sing a gastight outer casing, having thick inner walls of insulating material enclosing an inner container, said insulating vmaterial being perlbunkers without permitting access to the car QigoAn interchangeable, less than carload lots refrigerator com artment having a gas- 5 tight outer casing, a t 'ck layer of permeable insulating material disposed against said outer casing and a gas-tight inner sheathing, having an interspace between it and said insulating material and. means for circulatm ing carbon dioxide gas in said interspace.Y

10. A refrigerator car comprising a multiplicity of large size refrierative compartv ments, each having gas-tig t exterior walls, a thick layer of permeable insulation in con- 15 tact with said exterior wallsvand gas-tightinterior walls spaced apart from said permeable insulating material, affording an interspace for free circulation of gas and en- I closlng a cargo` space, a refrigerant container 2 in the upper part of Asaid interspace, solid carbon dioxide in said container and means for appl 'ng gas evolved from said container into saidyilnterspace and from said interspace into -the cargo space, a door opening throu h 25 the roof into said container for char 'ng t e same and another door opening into t e cargo -space within said container, whereby access may ,be had to any' compartment without openin another compartment.

so 11. refrigerator car as specified in claim 10 and in which the compartments are similar, independently removable and replaceable structures.

Signed at New York, in the county of y u New York and state of New York, this 16th day of February, A. D. 1929.

f JOHN D SMALL. 

